Netanyahu Targets Art, Not Civilian Casualties
The Independent breathlessly reports on The Sea , an Israeli film about a Palestinian boy, becoming a target for Netanyahu’s government after winning five Ophir awards. How scandalous! A government that has systematically dismantled Palestinian homes, seized land, and waged war in Gaza now finds its true enemy: a movie. This isn't an isolated incident; Netanyahu's governments have a documented
history of attacking expressions of Palestinian identity or critical Israeli voices, from cracking down on NGOs to threatening cultural institutions for 'disloyalty'. While this 'outrage' unfolds, the real-world devastation in Gaza continues, largely funded by U.S. taxpayers. One might wonder if the same energy spent threatening to defund film awards could perhaps be redirected towards, say,
preventing mass starvation or rebuilding hospitals. But then, art that sparks empathy might just threaten the narrative, and that's a cinematic plot twist Netanyahu can't abide.